Home Office

Organised Crime: EU Law

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of whether Article 3 of Joint Action 98/700/JHA will put the UK's national systems on the relevant documents within the scope of EU law for the purposes of the human rights jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU, if the UK continues to be bound by that Joint Action from 1 December 2014.

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, through what legal means Norway, Iceland and Switzerland have access to the False and Authentic Documents Online database established under Joint Action 98700/JHA.

James Brokenshire: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Joint Action 98/700/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf, published on 3 July 2014. The Government has considered the potential impacts of ECJ jurisdiction very carefully. Article 72 of Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) makes clear that the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security is a responsibility for Member States. Article 276 of the TFEU states that the ECJ shall have no jurisdiction to review the validity or proportionality of operations carried out by the police or other law enforcement services of a Member State, or the exercise of responsibilities incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security. Given that context and the wording of Article 3 of Joint Action 98/700/JHA, the Government considers that any link between the UK’s national systems with EU law is likely to be sufficiently tenuous and indirect to mean that national systems will not be within the scope of EU law for the purposes of the human rights jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU. The participation of the Associated States in FADO is based on their participation in the Schgenen acquis.

Terrorism

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people had UK passports issued to them or renewed less than six months before they are known to have travelled to commit terrorist offences abroad in the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office does not record the travel history of people to whom UK passports are issued.

Travellers: Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what specific training in identifying and intervening on child sexual exploitation within the Traveller, Gypsy and Roma communities is given to police traveller liaison officers.

James Brokenshire: The College of Policing provides a national learning programme titled ‘Public Protection Level 1’ which includes a topic about Child Sexual Exploitation. The target audience for this learning is: · all operational police officers and support staff· Specialist public protection officers and staffPolice forces in England and Wales are required to ensure their training is aligned to the national training standards included in this learning programme.There is no specific training on identifying and intervening on child sexual exploitation within the Traveller, Gypsy and Roma communities for Police Traveller Liaison Officers.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what constabularies have so far been inspected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary on the robustness of their action on child sexual exploitation.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has so far inspected six forces as part of its rolling programme of National Child Protection Inspections. These are Norfolk Constabulary, South Yorkshire Police, West Midlands Police, Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment of a constabulary's child sexual exploitation action plan is involved in inspections by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s current programme of National Child Protection Inspections assesses the child protection work of every police force in England and Wales and as part of these inspections, the Inspectorate reviews the relevant force documentation. This includes the force’s child sexual exploitation plan.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for the examination of the child sexual exploitation action plans of all constabularies by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary is currently inspecting the child protection work (National Child Protection Inspections) of every police force in England and Wales. These inspections are unannounced and are being conducted as part of a rolling programme, with four forces inspected every quarter.The first report, in relation to Norfolk Constabulary, was published on 29 August. The next report to be published is scheduled to be on South Yorkshire and is due to be published shortly.

Police: Travellers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many traveller liaison officers are employed by each constabulary.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not hold this information centrally.

Glyndwr University

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations about ETS tests her Department made to Glyndwr University from February to March 2014.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office did not make any representations about ETS tests to Glyndwr University between February and March 2014 but we expect all educational establishments and providers to comply with their responsibilities and commitments as licensed sponsors and take action where we believe they are not doing so.

HM Treasury

Business: Scotland

Lindsay Roy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent fiscal steps he has taken to support small and micro-sized businesses in Scotland.

Mr David Gauke: The government is committed to supporting small businesses across the UK, and has recently taken a number of measures to support Scotland’s 326,000 SMEs. In February 2014, the Start Up Loans programme went live in Scotland, and has already supported 500 Scottish entrepreneurs to start their own business with £1.6m of loans. In April 2014, the Government launched the Employment Allowance to allow businesses and charities throughout the UK to deduct up to £2,000 off their employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) bill each year. By June 2014, 57,000 Scottish SMEs had benefitted from this scheme. Also in April 2014, the government increased the rate of the credit payable to loss-making SMEs investing in research and development from 11% to 14.5% and doubled the Annual Investment Allowance to £500,000 until 2016 to support business investment.  The Government has also launched new tax reliefs for the production of high-end television, animation, video games and theatre and introduced the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme to support small early stage companies seeking equity investment.

Housing: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the ratio of average house prices to average wages was in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency in each year since 2008.

Andrea Leadsom: There are no official statistics on the ratio of average house prices to average wages. Regional house price information is available through the Land Registry and regional earnings data is available through the Office for National Statistics’ NOMIS service.

Domestic Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2014, Official Report, column 1094W, on domestic visits, what domestic visits he has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.

Andrea Leadsom: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 22 July 2014, column reference 1094W.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue loss from tobacco smuggling has been prevented as a result of increasing assessments and civil penalties in each year since 2010-11; and what operational targets were set for this activity in each of those years.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue loss has has been prevented as a result of targeting and disrupting criminal gangs behind tobacco fraud; and what operational targets were set for this activity in each year since 2010-11.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what operational targets were set for the seizure of illicit (a) cigarettes and (b) hand-rolling tobacco in each year since 2010-11; and whether those targets were met in each of those years.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what operational targets were set for reducing the supply of genuine tobacco products for fraud in each year since 2010-11; and whether those targets were met in each of those years.

Priti Patel: Information on HMRC’s performance against operational targets was published in June 2013 in the NAO Report ‘Progress in tackling tobacco smuggling’ http://www.nao.org.uk/report/progress-in-tackling-tobacco-smuggling/

Credit Cards: Fees and Charges

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle excess credit card charging; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, including credit cards. Consumer credit regulation transferred from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on 1 April 2014, this new, more robust regulatory system provides far stronger consumer protections and will help deliver the Government’s vision for a well-functioning and sustainable credit market.  The Government has ensured that the FCA has robust powers to curb credit fees and charges. The FCA has also committed to undertake a thorough review of the credit card market to assess whether competition is effective and whether consumers have access to credit cards that are affordable and deliver value for money. This review is due to start shortly.

Landsbanki

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if HM Treasury will limit the amount of compensation paid to UK Icesave customers.

Andrea Leadsom: At the time of the collapse of Landsbanki and its UK branch, Icesave, customer deposits amounted to £4.5bn. Depositors were fully compensated at the time of the collapse by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the Government. In return, the FSCS became a priority creditor in the Landsbanki estate, which is currently being wound down.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last reviewed the amount of compensation made available to Equitable Life policyholders and annuitants through the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, under what circumstances he would review the amount of compensation made available to Equitable Life policyholders through the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.

Andrea Leadsom: The 2010 Spending Review allocated up to £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. The Government has no plans to review the level of funding available to the Payment Scheme.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria he used to calculate the amount of compensation issued to Equitable Life policyholders through the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.

Andrea Leadsom: In her report the Parliamentary Ombudsman was clear that the state of the public purse should be taken into account when deciding the level of funding available. The Government decided that £1.5billion was an appropriate level of funding for the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.

Banks: Loans

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Funding for Lending Scheme on the lending market in (a) Southend and (b) England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contribution has been made by Barclays Bank to the Funding for Lending Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he had with Barclays Bank on the Funding for Lending Scheme; if he will place in the Library all material provided by (a) his Department to Barclays Bank and (b) Barclays Bank to his Department on that scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) provides funding to banks and building societies for an extended period, with both the price and quantity of funding provided linked to their lending performance. There is no mechanical link between funding drawn from the scheme and lending activity in any particular nation, region or city. The decision on where, how much and to whom to lend remains a commercial decision for the bank or building society concerned. More generally, the FLS has been successful in helping to reduce bank funding costs to historic lows; and in providing strong incentives for participants to make loans cheaper and more easily available.  Ministers meet with various stakeholders to discuss a broad range of issues. It is not appropriate to reveal the detail of these discussions or to release any information exchanged which may pertain to the FLS. Barclays participated in the first phase of the FLS, which ran until January 2014, but are not participating in the Scheme’s extension. Barclays’ FLS data is publically available on the Bank of England’s website: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/Pages/FLS/default.aspx

Barclays

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many treat-official letters were dealt with by his Department about Barclays Bank in each month since January 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost

Barclays

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many letters were sent to his Department by (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of the House of Lords about Barclays Bank, in each month since January 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost

Barclays

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with Barclays Bank in 2014 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last met the Chief Executive of Barclays Bank; what was discussed at that meeting; where that meeting took place; who was present at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department next plan to meet (i) the Chairman and (ii) Chief Executive of Barclays Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on Barclays Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Chief Executive and (b) Chairman of Barclays Bank about the role played by that bank in supporting businesses with five or fewer staff; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. However, a list of meetings with external stakeholders is published on the Treasury website. This list can be found at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Barclays

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) goods and (b) services are provided by Barclays Bank to his Department; what the purpose of each such good or service is; how much his Department paid for each such good or service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Amess: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what contracts his Department has signed with Barclays Bank in each month since July 2010; what each such contract is for; how much his Department paid for each such contract; how many such contracts (a) have expired, (b) have been terminated and (c) are current; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the tenders issued and contracts they award with a value over £10,000www.gov.uk/contracts-finder  In addition, Departments including HM Treasury routinely publish details of transactions over £25,000 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/25000-spend

Leader of the House

Families

Lucy Powell: To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech of 15 August 2011 calling for a family test to be applied to all domestic policy, which policies of his Office have been so assessed to date.

Mr William Hague: On 18 August 2014 the Prime Minister announced that the family test was being formalised as part of the impact assessment for all domestic policies. From October 2014, every new domestic policy will be examined for its impact on the family.